I used to play a Super Mario Bros. game on Nintendo where the last levels of the game had a map where only my location in the game was illuminated and the rest of the map was pitch black. In the many years since I have played that game, I have encountered many situations where the next step was illuminated just in time.

Even when I have had a strong sense of what needs to happen next or in what direction I should go, everything often falls in place to allow me to take those next steps just in time.

Henri Nouwen talked about lessons learned from a circus troupe, specifically a group of trapeze artists and how they were a metaphor for trusting in God as the ultimate catcher. The metaphor applies to this topic too.

The trapeze “flyer,” the one who will leap off his bar and be caught by the “catcher,” cannot leave his bar when it looks safe to do so…when the catcher is in place to catch him, because if the flyer does, then the catcher will have moved to a different spot by the time the flyer gets to the targeted spot. The safest move is to release from the bar before the catcher arrives at the spot, so that the catcher arrives just in time.

My sense is that we, as a planet, as human beings on spiritual journeys (or spiritual beings on a human journey, if you prefer) are moving into a new time where new ways of doing things are needed. We are taught that being prepared is a virtue, and it is, but so is honoring uncertainty and trusting that God will provide…that bridges will be built as you cross the body of water, not necessarily days and weeks and months earlier when you’re trying to decide if it is safe to make the trip.